THE UNCERTAIN FUTURE OF FDOC SPORTS
Feb 2006: My husband plays softball for DOC and I think that it is getting a bad rap for what some Institutions have done. At our Institution it is a way for the wives and children to get together and have a fun family oriented weekend. I really do not think it is fair to take away the fun for everyone. There has been talk of the new Secretary taking out Softball for good. These CO's have a very depressing job so what better way for them to have fun. Most of them (all of them at our institution) do it for the pure love of it. My children can hardly wait to see their friends at the games and I have met very good people there myself. The institutions that are doing illegal things should be punished not everyone.
Please post this onsite.
~A Ballplayer's Wife
Sports is the all American pass time; mom, apple pie and clean cut fun. Sports in the FDOC has turned out to be less than wholesome. Now, because of the lack of some players' ethics, you have a valid concern for the future of sports in the FDOC. Unfortunately, that's the way it seems to work in our society; a handful abuse something and everyone ends up paying.
I absolutely agree with you that the members of the FDOC need extracurricular activities. It's a stressful job with few perks, and sports can certainly be a better way to relax and socialize than the beer busts Allen Clark used to have.
I don't know what the interim secretary will do about this matter, but I'd give the new guy a chance. As you are aware, softball et al is a sore spot right now because sports were used to further criminal activity and employee misdeeds. I'd like to see someone work up some figures on just what this has cost the taxpayers up to this point. FDOC employees have paid too. From what I understand, some of the teams were deducting from the employee fund rather the employees approved or not. So these are the people to thank if Sports in the department are eliminated.
As you are also aware, the FBI/FDLE investigations are ongoing as they work their way through the department. Although there have been a few arrests and some firings, in no way has everyone engaged in illegal or improper behavior been dealt with.
If Secretary McDonough suspends department supported sports, I certainly hope it is temporary. But until all this is cleared up, there's certainly nothing to keep the sports-minded employees from getting together on the weekends and enjoying fresh air and good company.
Kay Lee
kaylee1@charter.net
FDOC Softball
Monday, March 06, 2006Source: I'm not sure if you know this or not - but ALL sports activities for DOC have been put on HOLD. The new Secretary has gone in and cleaned house. There is NO more DOC softball, or any sports for that matter. They said it is for "right now", but it looks like it will be through at least the end of the year.
Kay Lee: Sure, I'm always interested in the sports. What's the name of the store where equipment is purchased? What items of equipment? Did they get the stuff on credit?
Source: It's Brian's Sports in Lake City - I believe almost all the DOC Teams use Brian's.. I'm not sure of all the equipment owed for - I just know that players came in and ordered stuff - then the FDOC said sports was cancelled. I know they usually do Jerseys/Pants there, They get bats, balls, shoes, and whatever else needed. And all purchases are on credit - They use Brian's so much that players go in, say what they want, and then pay later. Sports equipment was paid for with, I think they called it, Employee club money?
They had all ready ordered equipment - so the store they ordered from is out of that money. The store they do business with, Brian's Sports? Last year, or when they were being investigated - they even went to this guy at the store to pull invoices.
Kay Lee: Tell me how the employees handle it without taxpayers' funded sports. Will they do car washes or cake walks or get their own 'kitty' together to handle the costs? Or will they just give it up and complain until sports are restored?
Source: Well their reaction isn't that good - they are all of course upset/mad. Everything they do revolves around sports. And with sports not being the 'big thing' they will not be getting everything they are used to. In other words - raises, favors, shifts they want - and of course not being able to practice during work hours.
If they are good players they get shifted around to different facilities - it's sort of like pro sports trading players....they offer the guys good positions, shifts they want - things like that. As far as I could tell the employees are very upset.
At first it was going to be for a short period of time - a month or so - let things cool down, but now it looks like no sports for the year, if ever.
I don't think they are allowed to have teams at all - not even with their own money. Now, no one could stop them if they put teams together outside of work.
Kay Lee: With no sports, how much extra time will you have to be around your family?
Source: Practices were held twice a week, then the games. Lots.
EMPLOYEE CONCERNS, MCDONOUGH'S ISSUES
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